Will Nigeria ever shine at Taekwondo Olympics event again? Path set by Chuka Chukwumerije

Posted : 08 June 2023

Chika Chukwumerije was born into aristocratic family as his father, Uche Chukwumerije was a renowned former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and he also served as Minister of Information.

Luckily for Chika, he was born into the family of a Taekwodoist, as his father, Uche Chukwumerije was a former Black belt holder, so as his seven siblings who were all black belt holders; his family had much success in Taekwondo which aided his progression.

In the family of Chukwumerije, five were former national champions, three were University champions, while two were African champions.

So, as early as three years old, Chika started training.

Chika had his primary education in Lagos at St. Jude's Private School in Festac Town, Lagos and received his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO).

Chika Chukwumerije's medal winning prospect started in FUTO when he chose be a part in FUTO Taekwondo team.

Chukwumerije's fame quickly grew in Taekwondo, while in the university as this afforded him the opportunity to participate in three successive Nigeria University Games (NUGA).

In the events, he won a bronze medal in 2000, a gold medal in 2002 and another in 2004.

Chukwumerije decided to go professional in 2002, and therefore became a national champion in , right after the NUGA, and went on to be undisputed champion for a record period of nine years without tasting a defeat.

The international career of Chukwumerije started in 2003, during the All Africa Games in Abuja where he won a bronze medal in the Heavyweight Male category, along with Ngala Munayi of Kenya.

He thereafter participated in 2007 All-Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria, where himself and Adamu won gold medals in taekwondo, in the +80 kg class.

Chukwumerije participated at the 2011 All-Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, where he settled for silver in the men's heavyweight category due to injury.

The fist fighter however opened his Summer Olympics records in 2004 after he came second in the regional qualifications, behind Abdelkader Zrouri of Morocco and subsequently traveled with Team Nigeria as part of the contingents to the quadrenial biggest sporting events in the world.

Chukwumerije finished 11th at the 2004 Athens Olympics and failed to advance beyond the preliminary stage, which was however was his first taste at the Olympics.

In spite of the dissapointment of 2004 Athens Olympics, Chukwumerije had gained much trust about his potentials in Taekwondo, so he got another opportunity in 2008 to participate at the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

As part of preparations to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Chika's father, Uche invested heavily on him with a 6-weeks all expenses-paid sponsorships to the USA together with his partner, Isa Adamu where he would have gotten more opportunities to train better with grade A facilities, although Adamu would later be dropped because of visa hitch.

Competing in the men's +80kg event, at the Summer Olympics in 2008, Chukwumerije defeated Vietnam's Nguyen Van Hung in the preliminary rounds and also defeated Mali's Daba Modibo Keïta in the quarterfinals, but lost to Greece's Alexandros Nikolaidis, the eventual silver medal winner in the event.

In the repechage, he defeated Akmal Irgashev of Uzbekistan to claim one of two bronze medals at the Olympics.

Chukwumerije was made the captain of Team Nigeria at the 2014 Commonwealth, where he emerged a silver medalist after pulling out of the final against Mahama Cho of Great Britain due to injury.

In 2007, Chukwumerije was a contestant on Survivor Africa: Panama and was the fifth person to be voted out.

In 2009, Chukwumerije was inducted into the World's Taekwondo Hall of Fame in New Jersey as an "Outstanding Male African Olympic Player".

As a mark of giving back to the society, Chukwumerije organised a Taekwondo championships in 2012, named "Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation International Taekwondo Championship" aimed at producing world-class taekwondo practitioners from West Africa.

Chukwumerije noted that the Championships would address "the lack of constant exposure to world-class tournaments, training camps, equipment and training methodologies in Taekwondo.

Speaking on his plans for the future of Taekwondo in Nigeria, Chukwumerije noted that after many years of being engaged in the sport, being passionate for the sport, investing in sports, it will be important that he takes decision that other athletes are also exposed to sports.

"I need to pause a bit and move on to another career, then it is also important to let the people who have supported me so much know about it.

"I have a degree in mechanical engineering and I have a masters in operation and supply chain management, I was a first class student and the best graduating student," he said.

On the plan for his foundation, Chukwumerije said that the foundation, Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF), was basically about empowering young people.

"I am happy to let you know that the first generation of young athletes are in the final year.

"The Foundation has produced People like Joy and Kenneth, who are in the final year at the University of Abuja, Elizabeth Anyanacho is in the 4th year, still has one more year, some others are in the second year.

"I will keep supporting them, so the foundation is not actually about taekwondo, it’s actually about empowering young persons to be self sufficient.

"We use to do a lot of other skills acquisition, for me, this is a better way of empowering young people because at some point in time, they have to pay their bills, and I enjoy it very much," he said.

Chukwumerije disclosed that he was studying some languages which are Chinese and French.

Chukwumerije said Nigeria was within a short distance of athletes that could replace him if the federation can come out with workable plans of grassroots development of the sport.

Giving this advice, it is left for the Ministry of Sports to look into a way of developing Taekwondo in order to produce athletes that can replicate the success of Chika Chukwumerije.

For now, no athlete comes close in +80 category. Will Nigeria ever find a replacement? Time will tell.

Will Nigeria ever shine at Taekwondo Olympics event again? Path set by Chuka Chukwumerije

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